Blood specimen apparatus

ABSTRACT

A BLOOD SPECIMEN COLLECTING DEVICE COMPRISING CARTRIDGE MEANS FOR HOLDING A PLURALITY OF TEST TUBES, EACH OF WHICH IS CLOSED BY A SEALING MEANS DISPOSED IN ITS END, MEANS FOR RIGIDLY GRIPPING A FIRST CANNULA WHICH IS CONNECTED BY MEANS SUCH AS A FLEXIBLE TUBE TO A SECOND CANNULA SUITABLE FOR PENETRATING INTO A VEIN, DRIVE MEANS FOR PROVIDING RELATIVE RECIPROCATION BETWEEN THE GRIPPING MEANS AND THE CARTRIDGE MEANS TO PENETRATE SUCH FIRST CANNULA THROUGH SUCH SEALING MEANS, AND INDEXING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CARTRIDGE MEANS RELATIVE TO SAID GRIPPING MEANS EACH TIME THERE IS CUH RELATIVE RECIPROCATION SEQUENTIALLY TO PLACE EACH SUCH SEALING MEANS ADJACENT SUCH FIRST CANNULA. A THIRD CANNULA CAN BE PROVIDED AND CONNECTED TO THE GRIPPING MEANS TO BE PENETRATED THROUGH SUCH SEALING MEANS WITH THE FIRST CANNULA, THIS THIRD CANNULA BEING CONNECTED TO A VACUUM PUMP MEANS EFFECTIVE AT LEAST PARTIALLY TO EVACUATE EACH TUBE INTO WHICH THE THIRD CANNULA IS PENETRATED. MEANS ARE PROVIDED FOR CONSTRICTING THE FLEXIBLE TUBE CONNECTING THE FIRST AND SECOND CANNULAE WHEN THE FIRST CANNULA IS NOT PENETRATED INTO A TEST TUBE, THIS CONSTRICTING MEANS BEING OPERATED BY THE RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF THE CARTRIDGE MEANS AND GRIPPING MEANS.

Nov. 2, 1971 R. H. GRABHORN 3,616,789

BLOOD SPECIMEN APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1970 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ROBERT H GRABHORN ATTORNEYS Nov. 2, 1971 R. H. GRABHORN 3,616,180

BLOODSPEGIMEN APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1970 4 Sheets-Sheet a INVENTOR.

ROBERT H GRAQHORN iwwww ATTORNEY 2, 1971 R. H. GRABHORN BLOOD SPECIMEN APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 2, 1970 ,IN'VENTOR. ROBERT H. GRABHORN 1971 R. H. GRABHORN moon SPECIMEN APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed March 2, 1970 I N'VENTOR ROBERT H. GRABHORN i mi United States Patent 3,616,789 BLOOD SPECIMEN APPARATUS Robert H. Grabhorn, Indianapolis, Ind., assignor to Systematiks, Inc., Indianapolis, Ind. Filed Mar. 2, 1970, Ser. No. 15,511 Int. Cl. A6lb /10 US. Cl. 128-2 R 39 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A blood specimen collecting device comprising cartridge means for holding a plurality of test tubes, each of which is closed by a sealing means disposed in its end, means for rigidly gripping a first cannula which is connected by means such as a flexible tube to a second cannula suitable for penetrating into a vein, drive means for providing relati've reciprocation between the gripping means and the cartridge means to penetrate such first cannula through such sealing means, and indexing means for moving said cartridge means relative to said gripping means each time there is such relative reciprocation sequentially to place each such sealing means adjacent such first cannula. A third cannula can be provided and connected to the gripping means to be penetrated through such sealing means with the first cannula, this third cannula being connected to a vacuum pump means eflective at least partially to evacuate each tube into which the third cannula is penetrated. Means are provided for constricting the flexible tube connecting the first and second cannulae when the first cannula is not penetrated into a test tube, this constricting means being operated by the relative movement of the cartridge means and gripping means.

My present invention relates to the collection of blood specimens, and more particularly to the provision of a system or device for use in taking a plurality of blood specimens from a persons vein. I refer to my co-pending application Ser. No. 824,977 filed May 15, 1969 and titled Blood Collecting Method and Device. This present application discloses, in detail, my presently preferred device. It will be appreciated, however, that many of the features disclosed in my said prior application are applicable to the device disclosed in this application.

It is an object of my present invention to provide, in a blood specimen collecting device which utilizes a plurality of test tubes, means for controllably at least partially evacuating such test tubes to draw the blood therein.

It is another object of my present invention to provide, for use in a device which utilizes a first cannula which is sequentially penetrated into each of a plurality of test tubes, a second cannula which is penetrated into a vein and a flexible tube 'which connects the cannulae, means for constricting the flexible tube when the first cannula is not penetrated into a test tube so that blood will not run uncontrollably from the vein into which the second cannula is penetrated.

Still another object of my present invention is to provide, in a device which sequentially penetrates such a first cannula into each of several test tubes, indexing means for sequentially placing the sealing means of such test tubes adjacent such first cannula.

Other objects and features of my present invention will become apparent as this description progresses.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings and description are merely illustrative and that changes may be made in the specific constructions illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

Patented Nov. 2., 1971 In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my preferred blood specimen collecting device;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of my device taken from FIG. 1 generally along the line 22;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view, enlarged and partially sectioned and cut away, showing my preferred means for supporting a cartridge loaded with test tubes, means for indexing the cartridge, means for gripping the cannula which is penetrated into the tubes and means for reciprocating the gripping means;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from FIG. 2 generally along the line 4-4 and showing my preferred means for gently agitating the blood which is drawn into the test tubes;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional and elevational view of my preferred means for gripping the cannula which is penetrated into the test tubes;

FIG. 6 is an end view of my preferred gripping means taken from the right-hand side of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view, partially cut away and sectioned, of my device and showing a slightly different vacuum pump arrangement;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from FIG. 7 generally along the line =88 and showing one type of vacuum pump which can be used in my device;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, sectional 'view, somewhat diagrammatical, showing the manner in which the vacuum pump of FIG. 7 may be connected to a cannula which is penetrated into each test tube;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken from FIG. 9, generally along the line 1010;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the adapted tube which fits into the mouth of the test tube shown in FIGS. 9 and 10; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a manually-operated vacuum pump for use in my device.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 14, it will be seen that my device, indicated generally at 10, comprises a housing 12 including a cover '14 which is padded as indicated at 16 to provide an upwardly facing arm rest. The housing 12 provides a forwardly and upwardly facing surface on which a control panel, such as indicated at 18, may be placed. The controls shown on this panel 18 are merely illustrative and may be conventional. The cover 14 is hinged to the base portion of the housing 12 by means such as indicated at 20 in FIG. 2 so that the entire cover can be pivoted rearwar dly as indicated by the arrow 21 (FIG. 1) to expose the interior of my device 10.

Further, the bottom of the housing 12 is provided by a panel 22 which is connected to the housing by means such as the illustrated screws 24. It will be appreciated that this panel 22 and everything which is mounted on it can be removed from the housing 12 merely by removing the screws 24 and lifting the housing 12 away from the panel.

Further, for reasons which will be further described hereinafter, the cover 14 is provided with a viewing aperture 26.

In my said prior application Ser. No. 824,977, I disclosed my concept of providing, in a blood specimen collecting device, an oscillable platform. My present device 10 includes such a platform means or oscillable platform as indicated at 28. This platform 28 is supported in the housing 12 by a support bracket 30 which, in turn, is supported on the outer race of a rotary bearing, such as indicated at 32. In FIG. 4, it will be seen that the bearing 32 is rigidly attached to the support bracket 30 by screws 36. The inner race (not shown) of the bearing is connected to a shaft 38 which is bored (FIG. 4) to receive the vertically extending output shaft 40 of a drive motor 42. In order to produce the desired wobbling action as discussed in my said prior application, the shaft 38 is bored at an angle relative to its axis so that it is inclined at an angle such as indicated at 41 in FIG. 4 relative to the axis of the shaft 40. The shaft 38 is fastened to the shaft 40 for rotation therewith. Thus, the inner race of the bearing 32 wobbles to cause wobbling movement of the outer race 34 and, consequently, the bracket 30.

The motor 42 is mounted on a bracket 44 which, in turn, is yieldably connected to the panel 22 by means such as the illustrated screws 46 and springs 48. As seen in the left-hand end of FIG. 2, a leaf spring 50 is connected between the panel 22 as indicated at 52 and the left-hand end of the platform 28 as indicated at 54. This spring 50 serves yieldably to hold the platform in position, i.e., to prevent rotation of the platform 28 with the inner race of the bearing 32, the spring 50 permitting the platform to wobble from side to side as indicated by the arrow 56 in FIG. 4 and from end to end as indicated by the arrow 58 in FIG. 2. Further, the spring 50 compensates for the weight of the drive motor 60 which is mounted on the right-hand end of the platform 28 (FIG. 2) by means of the bracket 62. The function and operation of this motor 60 will be discussed hereinafter.

My device includes or utilizes a cartridge means or cartridge 66 which is arranged to hold a plurality of test tubes 68, each of which is closed at one end by a sealing means 70. It will be appreciated that the illustrative cartridge 66 is a cylindrically-shaped container and that the test tubes 68 extend axially into the container, the test tubes being peripherally spaced about the axis of the container. The illustrative sealing means 70 may be conventional rubber or rubber-like sealing stoppers and the test tubes 68 may be conventional glass test tubes or plastic test tubes. The illustrative and preferred cartridge 66 also is provided with a plurality of axially extending slots in its outer Wall, these slots being positioned so that each test tube 68 can be viewed through a slot. The cartridge 66 also is provided with a plurality of openings 74 in its lefthand end as viewed in FIG. 3, these openings 74, respectively, being coaxially aligned with the openings in the cartridge which received the test tubes 68. Thus, each test tube 68 can be easily removed from the cartridge 66 by pushing a rod-like device into its corresponding opening 74. The right-hand end of the cartridge (FIG. 2), referred to as its forward end, is provided with a coaxially disposed, axially extending trunnion portion 76 while its rear end is provided with a concentric axially and peripherally extending bearing surface 78. As will be more fully described hereinafter, the trunnion portion 76 and bearing portion 78 provide means for mounting the cartridge 66 on the platform 28 for rocking movement about its axis.

Further, the cartridge 66 provides a plurality of peripherally spaced apart protrusions 80 which are used in my device 10 to index the cartridge about its axis. It will be seen that each of said protrusions 80 provides a surface portion 80a which extends spirally about a peripheral portion of the cartridge 66. The manner in which these surface portions 80a are used in indexing the cartridge 66 will be more fully explained hereinafter.

The cartridge 66 is, of course, a means for holding a plurality of test tubes so that a cannula can be sequentially penetrated into each test tube. The protrusions 80 are indexing portions usable to rock the cartridge 66 about its axis sequentially to place the sealing means 70 of each test tube 68 held in the cartridge adjacent such a cannula. Each protrusion 80, therefore, represents the position of one test tube 68 in the cartridge 66.

It is my concept that a nurse or technician who is to use my device 10 can select a particular cartridge 66 which may already be loaded with the proper number of test tubes 68, each of which contains the desired preservative, coagulant, anti-coagulant, etc. necessary to complete the desired series of blood tests.

While the illustrative cartridge 66 is shown as a solid piece of plastic formed with recesses, protrusions, etc., it will be appreciated that, within the scope of my invention, such cartridges may be provided by assembling together one or more members which may be either plastic or metal. It will also be appreciated that spirally inclined indexing surfaces, such as the surfaces a, can be provided by spirally formed slots or openings in the cartridge.

The platform means 28 provides means 86, 88 (best seen in FIG. 3) for supporting the cartridge 66 for rocking movement about its axis, the means 86 including an upstanding support bracket 90 which is fastened to the plat form by means such as the illustrated screws 92. This support bracket 90 is provided with an upwardly opening, semi-circular, bearing surface 94 which receives and journal mounts the trunnion portion 76 of a cartridge 66. The illustrative means 88 is essentially a saddle block arrangement providing an upwardly opening cylindrical bearing surface 96 which receives and journal mounts the cylindrical bearing portion 78 at the rear end of a cartridge 66. In the illustrative embodiment, there is a friction pad 98 disposed in this bearing surface 96 to provide some resistance to rocking movement of the cartridge 66 relative to the platform 28. Further, in the illustrative embodiment, the bearing surface 78 of the cartridge 66 is provided with a plurality of peripherally spaced apart, spherically concave detent recesses and the means 88 includes at least one spring-loaded ball detent 102 arranged to engage these recesses 100. The recesses 100 are positioned about the bearing surface 78 to cooperate with the ball detent 102 accurately to position the sealing means 70 of each test tube 68 in alignment with the path of reciprocation of the cannula which is penetrated into each test tube.

As clearly seen in FIG. 3, the device 10 includes a light source 104 mounted on the platform 28 and covered by a shade 105. This light source 104 illuminates the interior of the housing 12 adjacent the cartridge 66. Further, there is a reflecting surface 106 mounted on the platform 28 and arranged so that the nurse or technician taking the blood can look through the viewing aperture 2 6 and at the reflecting surface 106 which will show, through a slot 72, the test tube 68 into which the blood is being drawn. Thus, the nurse or technician can observe whether or not the device 10 is performing properly.

As fully disclosed in my prior application Ser. No. 824,977, it is my concept to utilize a first cannula 110 which is sequentially penetrated through the sealing means 70 of each test tube 68, a second cannula 112 which is to be penetrated, for instance, into the vein in a persons arm and a flexible hemo-repellent tube 114' connecting these cannulae so that blood can flow from the vein, through the cannulae and tube and into the test tubes 68.

My device 10 includes means for rigidly gripping the first cannula 110 and holding it while it is being reciprocated through each of the sealing means 70. The illustrative gripping means 120 includes a base portion 122 which is mounted on the platform 28 for reciprocation as indicated by the arrow 124 toward and away from the support bracket 90. In FIG. 6, I have shown grooves 126 extending along each side of the base portion 122 and runners 128 which are stationary relative to the platform 28 and which extend into the grooves 126 to guide the base portion for reciprocation. It willbe appreciated that the base portion may be guided for reciprocation in any number of ways. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, I have provided a hollow, longitudinally extending member 130 which is rigidly connected to the base portion 122 and which carries, at its distal end, an internally threaded member 132. The aforementioned drive motor 60 is drivingly connected to the base portion 122 by means of a drive screw 134 which threadedly engages the internally threaded member 132, the drive screw bemg drivingly connected to the output shaft of th motor 60 by means of the illustrated gears 136, 138, 140. I prefer that the motor '60 be a reversible motor so that I can drive the base portion 122 in either direction along its path of movement. The gears 136140 and the drive screw 134 are conventionally protected in a housing or cover indicated at 142.

1 provide a cover 144 for the base portion 122, this cover 144 being hingedly connected to the base portion as indicated at 146. The cover 144, which serves a number of purposes as will be discussed hereinafter, is held in its closed position by means such as the illustrated spring-type latch 148 which is connected to the base portion 122 as indicated at 150.

The gripping means 120 includes, in the illustrative embodiment, a chuck portion 152 which is mounted in a cavity in the base portion 122 as best seen in FIG. 3 to be covered by the cover 144. The chuck portion 152 is provided with an upwardly opening, longitudinally extending slot 154 having an enlarged recess portion as indicated at 156. The base portion, at its upper, righthand end (FIGS. 3 and 5) is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 158 which is axially aligned with and in communication with the slot 154. The base portion 122 also carries, at its right-hand end, an upwardly opening guide member 160 which serves to guide the flexible tube 114 into the slot 158.

The chuck portion 152 is slidably movable within the base portion 122 a short distance represented by the space 162. The movement of the chuck portion relative to the base portion this small distance is resisted by a coiled compression spring 164 (FIG. 5) which acts between the chuck portion and a portion 122' of the base portion. The reasons why '1 have provided this slight, but yieldably resisted movement of the chuck portion 152 relative to the base portion 122 will become apparent as this description progresses.

My device includes means for constricting the flexible tube 114 during the periods of time when the cannula 110 is not penetrated into a test tube 68. The purpose of the constricting means is to prevent blood from flowing from the vein into which the cannula 112 is penetrated through the tube 114 and out through the cannula 110 onto the mechanism of my device 10. In the illustrative embodiment, this constricting means 170 includes a pincher member 172 carried in a vertically extending opening 174 in the base portion 122 for movement into and out of engagement with the tube 114. It will be seen that the member 172 is generally square in cross-section and that the vertically extending opening 174 is, likewise, generally square in cross-section. The bottom end portion of the member 172 is rounded as indicated at 176, its intermediate portion is necked down as indicated at 178 and its upper, head portion is sharpened as indicated at 180. As best seen in FIG. 5, the member 172 moves to its upper position so that its head portion 180 will pinch and constrict the tube 114. Specifically, this head portion 180 pinches the tube 114 upwardly against the bottom surface of the cover 144 which is locked in its closed position by means of the spring latch 148.

The illustrative constricting means includes means for actuating the pincher member 172, the actuating means being operated by movement of the gripping means 120, i.e., base portion 122 and chuck portion 152, toward and away from the cartridge 66. This actuating means is arranged so that the pincher member 172 is held out of engagement with the tube 114 when the gripping means 120 is adjacent the cartridge 66 and so that the pincher member 172 is held in engagement with the tube 114 when the gripping means is separated from the cartridge 66. In the illustrative embodiment, this actuating means includes means, such as indicated at 184 in FIG. 5, providing a ramp surface or cam surface disposed alongside the path of reciprocation of the base portion 122 and positioned and inclined to move the pincher member 172 upwardly into engagement with the tube 114 as the gripping means 120 moves away from the cartridge 66. The illustrative actuating means also includes means for latching the pincher member in its upper position, i.e., in engagement with the flexible tube 114, this latching means including a latch member 182 which, in the illustrative embodiment, is integrally connected with the chuck portion 152 and arranged to engage the necked down portion 178 as best seen in FIG. 5. The spring 164 which urges the chuck portion 152 to the left (as viewed in FIG. 5) relative to the base portion 122 serves to hold the latch member 182 in engagement with the necked down portion 178. When the gripping means 120 is reciprocated toward the cartridge 66 and the cannula is penetrated through the sealing means 70- of a tube 68, the resistance of the sealing means to such penetration causes the chuck portion 152 to move to the right (FIG. 5) relative to the base portion 122 the short distance represented by the space 162. When the chuck portion 152 moves this short distance, the member 182 is moved out of engagement with the pincher member 172 to permit it to drop downwardly. The pincher member 172, which is preferably made from a heavy material, such as steel, will drop downwardly because of its own weight and, also, because of the tendency of the plastic tube 114 to expand at the point where it has been constricted.

It will be appreciated, therefore, that the member 182 will not release the pincher member 172 unless there is relative movement between the chuck portion 152 and the base portion 122. This relative movement will only result from the forces exerted on the chuck portion 152 by the penetration of the cannula 110 through a sealing means 70. Thus, if for some reason, the gripping means is reciprocated toward a cartridge 66 and the cannula 110 enters an opening in the cartridge which is not holding a test tube, the pincher member 172 will not be moved out of engagement with the flexible tube 114.

In the illustrative embodiment, because of its weight, when the pincher member .172 is released by the latch member 182, it will drop downwardly and stay downwardly until it is again ramped upwardly to engage the tube 114. At all times when the pincher member 172 is to the right of the ramp surface 184 as viewed in FIG. 5, it will stay in engagement with the tube 114.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 5, it will be seen that the enlarged, V-shaped recess portion 156 of the slot 154 is adapted conformingly to receive a correspondingly shaped block 188 of plastic which is rigidly fastened to the rear end of the cannula 110. The sides of this block 188 are be-veled and the corresponding sides of the recess provided by the enlarged portion 156 are similarly beveled. The cover 144 serves to hold the block 188 securely in the recess provided by the enlarged portion 156 thereby securely to fasten the cannula 110 to the chuck portion 152'. Because of the manner in which the sides of the block 188 and recess portion 156 are beveled, it is only possible to place the bloc-k into the recess portion 156 in such a manner that the beveled surface 190 at the forward end of the cannula 110 is positioned properly relative to the sealing means 70.

The illustrative device 10 also includes means for at least partially evacuating the test tubes 68 to a condition such that blood will be drawn from the vein into which the cannula 112 is penetrated through the tube 114 and cannula 110 into the test tubes. In my prior application Ser. No. 824,977, I disclose the use of test tubes which were already at least partially evacuated before being placed in my device. Such tubes are commercially available and are widely used. While my present device will use such conventional evacuated tubes, it is my concept that the device should include means for evacuating the tubes. The reasons for this will become apparent as this description progresses.

In FIG. 2 I show a third cannula 196 carried by the gripping means 120 to extend alongside the cannula 110, this cannula 196 being shown in phantom in FIG. 3. In FIG. 2, I show, in block form, a vacuum pump 198 mounted on the panel 22 and, in dashed lines, conduit means 200 for connecting the third cannula 196 to the vacuum pump. It will be appreciated that this conduit means 200 may be any conventional rubber or plastic tubing and that it may be connected to the cannula 196 and the pump 198 in any conventional manner.

The pump 198 may include its own electricallyoperated drive motor or it may be, for instance, drivingly connected as indicated at 202 to the output shaft of the motor 42-. Within the broad scope of my invention, the vacuum pump 198 may also be manually-operated.

When the cannula 110 is in its position in the gripping means 120, it is parallel to the cannula 196 with both cannulae extending in the direction of reciprocation of the gripping means 120. The two cannulae 110, 196 are spaced apart by a distance such that they both can penetrate through the same sealing means 70 and into the same test tube 68. Preferably, the vacuum pump 198 is continually driven, such as by the motor 42, so that it is the vacuum pump which draws the blood from the vein through the cannula 110 and into the test tube. That is, when both cannulae 1 10, 196 are penetrated through a sealing means, the vacuum pump 198 is then effective slowly to evacuate the tube to cause blood flow therein.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-11, a slightly different vacuum pump arrangement on a device will be discussed, like reference numerals representing like parts. In the system of FIG. 7, the rotating shaft 40 which sup-ports the bracket 30 and bearing 32 is journal mounted by means of a bearing block 206 monted on the bottom panel 22. The drive motor 42- is then disposed between the vacuum pump 198' and the bearing block 206, a small cog wheel 20 8 and a large cog wheel 210 being mounted on the output shaft of the motor 42 for rotation therewith. By means of a cog belt 214, the small cog wheel 208 is drivingly connected to a cog wheel 212 rigidly fastened to the shaft 40'. By means of a cog belt 218-, the large cog wheel 210 is drivingly connected to a cog wheel 216 which is rigidly fastened to the input shaft of the pump 198'. Thus, the motor 42 can be used to drive the shaft 40' at a controlled low speed while it is driving the input shaft (cog wheel 216) of the vacuum pump 19 8' at a controlled and significantly higher speed. The vacuum pump 198' is then connected by means of a conventional flexible rubber or plastic tube 220 to a stationary connector block 222, i.e., a block that is stationarily mounted on the platform 28. The block 222 is mounted on the platform 28 to be just under the path of movement of the gripping means 120.

Referring to FIG. 9, it will be seen that the third cannula 196 may be connected to the chuck portion 152 by means such as the cannula conector 224 which may be threadedly engaged with the chuck portion as indicated at 226. This type of cannula connecting means is conventional and commercially available and need not be discussed in detail in this description. The chuck portion 152 provides a passageway 228 which provides communication between the cannula 196 and a passageway 230 in the base portion 122. This passageway 230 opens into the bottom surface of the base portion 122. The block 222 provides a passageway 232 which is in communication with the tube 220, this passageway 232 opening into the upper surface of the block 222. The block 222 is positioned adjacent the path of movement of the gripping means 120 so that when the gripping means is reciprocated to the left as viewed in FIG. 9 to the position in which the cannulae 110, 196 penetrate through the sealing means of a test tube, the passageway 230 is in vertical registry with the passageway 232 and the bottom surface of the base portion 122 is engaged with the top surface of the block 222 so that there is a substantially air-tight passageway between the cannula 196 and the tube 220.

Thus, when the passageways 230, 232 are in registry, the vacuum pump 198 can at least partially evacuate the test tube into which the cannula 196 is penetrated.

It will be appreciated, therefore, that in the system of FIGS. 7-11, the chuck portion 152 and base portion 122 constitute first means providing a passageway in communication with the third cannula 196, and the block 222 constitutes second means providing a passageway 232 disposed adjacent the path of the said first means, the first and second means being proportioned and construtced so that, when the third cannula 196 is penetrated into a test tube, the first and second means are engaged and the passageways 228, 230, 232 provided, respectively, thereby are in registry to complete a substantially air-tight path from the cannula 196 to the flexible tube 220.

As stated previously, the vacuum pumps 198, 198 may be any conventional type of motor-driven vacuum pumps. I believe that the type of pump illustrated generally in FIG. 8 is very suitable for use in my device 10. The pump 198 shown in FIG. 8 includes a rotor 236 which is driven in the direction of the arrow 238 because it is mounted on the shaft 240 on which the cog wheel 216 is mounted. The diametrically oppositely extending arms of the rotor 236 carry rollers 242, 244 which move about a circular path, a major portion of which is bounded by a cylindrical wall 246. A portion of the tube 220 is placed in the pump 198 to extend about the inner periphery of this wall 246 to be engaged by the rollers 242 as they move thereabout.

The cylindrical portion of the wall 246 is formed about the axis of the shaft 240 and the radial distance between the wall and the path defined by the rollers 242, 244 as they move about the axis of the shaft 240 is significantly less than the free diameter of the tube 220. Thus, as will be apparent, the rollers 242, 244 squeeze the tube 220 closed at the points at which they engage the tube. Since the rollers move in the direction of the arrow 238, air is drawn into the input end of the tube and exhausted out the exhaust end of the tube. The type of pump illustrated in FIG. 8 is conventional and well known and commercially available.

In FIGS. 9, l0 and 11, I show a novel sealing means 70 for closing a test tube 68. The illustrative sealing means 70' includes an adapter tube 250 proportioned and designed to fit into the open end of its associated test tube 68 with the axially extending outer surface of the adapter tube engaging the axially extending inner surface of the test tube adjacent its open end. The adapter tube 250 provides an end wall 252 disposed axially inwardly from the open end of the test tube 68' and a mouth 254 adjacent the open end. I provide a plug 256 disposed in and closing the mouth 254 of the adapter tube 250 to define a space 258 bounded by the end wall 252 and the plug 256. The end wall is provided with a perforation 260 therein which provides communication between the interior of the test tube 68' and the space 258. The first cannula is of a length such that its sharpened end will penertate through the plug 256, space 258 and end wall 252 into the interior of the test tube 68' and the third cannula 196 is of a length such that its sharpened end will penetrate through the plug into the space 258. The space 258 may be divided by means of a transversely and axially extending wall portion 262 into two separate compartments 264, 266, the wall portion 262 being perforated as indicated at 268 to provide communication between those compartments. Thus, air is drawn from the interior of the test tube 68 through the perforations 260 and 268 into the cannula 196. This, of course, will cause blood to flow from the cannula 110 into the interior of the test tube 68'. It will be appreciated that the perforation 260 is disposed, for instance, higher than the point at which the cannula 110 will penetrate through the end wall 252. This will tend to prevent blood from flowing from the interior of the test tube through the perforation 260 and perforation 268 into the compartment 266 into which the cannula 196 is penetrated.

Keying means, not shown, of any conventional type may be used to position the test tubes 68 and their sealing means 70' in the cartridges 66 in such a manner that the perforations 260 will always be disposed radially inwardly from the points at which the cannulae 110 will penetrate the end walls 252 and, for instance, so that the cannulae 110, 196 will be on opposite sides of the wall portion 262.

The adapter tube 250 and the plug 256 may be fabricated from any suitable and inexpensive plastic material. For instance, the adapter tube 250 may be made from a polyethylene material and the plug 256 may be made from any expanded foam material which is not detrimental to the testing of blood. It will be appreciated that the sealing means 70 does not have to hold a vacuum for any lengthy period of time. This is because the blood is, in effect, drawn into the test tube 68' by operation of the pump 198'. It is only necessary, for instance, that the sealing means 70' be sufficient to prevent the flow of more air into the tube 68 than can be removed via the cannula 196 and pump 198', i.e., to permit suflicient evacuation by the pump 198' to cause blood to flow.

It will be appreciated that the tubes 68 and their sealing means 7 may be obtained at a significantly reduced cost as compared to be presently available and conventional evacuated test tubes which are sealed with rather heavy rubber stoppers. This is true because it has been necessary to draw a vacuum on a test tube and to close the test tube with a rubber or rubber-like stopper which will prevent leaks for periods of several months while the tubes are delivered to the testing laboratories and stored for use.

Further, when the cannula 112 is penetrated into a vein and the cannula 110 is penetrated through the conventional rubber or rubber-like stopper of a conventional evacuated test tube, as soon as the sharpened end of the cannula 110 penetrates through the stopper, there is an immediate and rapid pumping action because of the vacuum condition. This rapid action causes the blood actually to squirt at a high velocity into the test tubes. This is believed to be somewhat detrimental to blood testing in that it causes too much agitation of the blood and, consequently, hemolysis of the blood. In my proposed vacuum pump system, the pump 198' can be operated at a speed such that the blood can be drawn into the test tubes at any desired rate. Further, controlled amounts of blood can be drawn into the test tubes simply by controlling the amount of time that the cannulae 110, 196 are penetrated through the sealing means and into the test tubes. In using conventional pre-evacuated test tubes, the amount of blood drawn into each tube varies considerably because of the variable characteristics of the vacuum.

The advantageous features of a vacuum pump arrangement and a device such as my device 10' cannot be overstressed. There are cost advantages as well as technological advantages. The fact that the blood can be drawn from a persons vein at a controlled rate is of the utmost importance. The chances that a persons vein will be collapsed by a sudden pumping action such as produced by a conventional pre-evacuated tube are eliminated.

It will be remembered that it is my concept to provide a system or a device which will facilitate the controlled taking and handling of blood specimens. Every feature of my device 10 is directed toward the taking of blood specimens in a controlled manner.

In some cases, in lieu of a motor-driven vacuum pump, it may be desirable to use a manually-operated vacuum pump such as illustrated in FIG. 12. This manually-operated pump, which can be connected directly to the tube 220 as illustrated, may include a conventional plunger 272 which is arranged for axial reciprocation in a cylinder 274 by means of a rod 276 on which a handle 278 is mounted. The plunger may be spring-loaded in one direction, such as indicated at 280, so that it will only be necessary for the nurse or technician to move the plunger in opposition to the spring to remove air from the test tube 68 which is in communication with the tube 220. It will be appreciated that the system of FIG. 12 is merely illustrative and that any number of types of manuallyoperated pumps may be used. For instance, a conventional hypodermic syringe may be connected to the cannula 196 and then used to evacuate the test tube into which the cannula is penetrated.

As discussed previously, the cartridge 66 itself provides indexing portions or indexing protrusions 80, each of which provides a spirally extending surface portion a. I take advantage of the reciprocating motion of the gripping means 120 to accomplish the indexing movement of the cartridge 66 about its axis sequentially to place the sealing means 70 of each tube 68 in a position such that the cannula and, if desired, the cannula 196 can penetrate through each sealing means. The cartridge 66, thus, has a plurality of index positions determined by the protrusions 80. The device 10, therefore, includes an indexing means including a member 290 and means for providing relative movement between this member 290 and the cartridge 66. The means for providing this relative movement, in the illustrative embodiment, includes means for connecting the member 290 to the gripping means for reciprocation therewith. Each time the member 290 reciprocates, it engages a surface portion 80a of a protrusion 80 on the cartridge 66 which is mounted on the platform 28. Since the member 290 moves rectilinearly and since the surface portions 80a incline spirally about the periphery of the cartridge, the cartridge has to rock about its axis to permit the member 290 to move to the end of its travel.

In the illustrative embodiment, the member 290 is generally cylindrically shaped about a generally vertically extending axis and has a necked clown portion 292 and a lower portion 294. There is a weighted member 296 carried by the member 290. The member 290, in the illustrative embodiment, is connected to the gripping means 120 for reciprocation therewith by means of a leaf spring 298, the leaf spring being connected by means of screws 300 to a forwardly extending portion 302 of the base portion 122. The leaf spring 298 and the weighted member 296 tend yieldably to urge the member 290 downwardly relative to the platform 28.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the platform 28 provides an elongated slot 310 with enlarged portions 312, 314 at each of its ends, which slot serves as a guide track for the member 290. The enlarged portions 312, 314 are circular and larger in diameter than the upper portion of the member 290 which is the portion that engages the surface portions 80a. I have provided a bracket or strap 320 connected to the platform 28 and positioned in such a manner that it will engage the leaf spring 298 as the leaf spring moves with the gripping means 120 away from the cartridge to lift the leaf spring and, consequently, the member 290 upwardly. This bracket 320 is, therefore, means for lifting the engaging member 290 upwardly through the opening 314. When the gripping means 120 reciprocates toward the cartridge 66, the member 290 is guided to move axially alongside the cartridge 66 because its necked down portion 292 is guided by the slot 310. When the member 290 reaches the enlarged opening 312, it drops or moves downwardly. Thus, in the illustrative embodiment, when the member 290 moves to the left as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3, it is above the platform 28 to engage the surface portions 80a and when it moves to the right it is below the platform so that it will not engage any portion of any protrusion 80. It will be appreciated, however, that the member 290 could be arranged so that it would rock the cartridge 66 about its axis on the return stroke of the member 290 instead of on its stroke to the left as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3'.

What is claimed is:

1. A blood specimen collecting device comprising cartridge means for holding a plurality of test tubes, each such test tube being closed by sealing means disposed in l l the end thereof, said cartridge means being constructed and arranged so that such tubes are held with their sealing means facing outwardly, platform means providing means for supporting said cartridge means for movement, means for rigidly gripping a first cannula which is connected by means such as a flexible tube to a second cannula suitable for penetrating into a vein, said gripping means being arranged so that the sharpened end of such first cannula is pointed toward such sealing means of such tubes, said cartridge means providing a plurality of spaced apart indexing portions, drive means for providing relative reciprocation between said gripping means and said cartridge means to penetrate such first cannula through such sealing means, indexing means for moving said cartridge means relative to said gripping means, said indexing means including a member and means for providing relative movement between said member and said cartridge means, said member and one of said indexing portions being engageable each time there is such relative movement, and said member and said indexing portions being proportioned and designed cooperatively to move said cartridge means relative to said gripping means each time there is such relative movement sequentially to place each such sealing means adjacent such first cannula.

2. The invention of claim 1 in which said means for providing such relative movement between said member and said cartridge means includes means for connecting said member to said gripping means for reciprocation therewith.

3. The invention of claim 2 in which said cartridge means includes a generally cylindrically-shaped container, in which said supporting means is arranged so that said container is movable about its axis, and in which said indexing portions are peripherally spaced about said container.

4. The invention of claim 3 in which each of said indexing portions provides a surface portion which extends outwardly and spirally about a peripheral portion of said container, said member being rectilinearly movable axially relative to said container to engage each such surface portion to rock said container through an angle determined by the peripheral extent of said surface portion and the extent of axial movement of said member while engaged with said surface portion.

5. The invention of claim 4 including spring-loaded detent means acting between said platform means and said container accurately to position said container in each of its index positions relative to said gripping means.

6. The invention of claim 4 in which said platform means provides an axially elongated track which engages and guides said member for movement axially alongside said container to engage said surface portions.

7. The invention of claim 6 in which said connecting means includes a spring arranged to move said member out of engagement with said track at the end of its travel therealong and including means for moving said member into engagement with said track at the beginning of its travel therealong.

8. The invention of claim 7 in which said platform means provides an axially elongated slot disposed below said container to define said track, said slot having end portions larger in size than said member and an intermediate portion smaller in size than said member, said spring being arranged to move said member downwardly through one of said end portions at the end of its travel and said moving means being arranged to lift said member upwardly through the other of said end portions at the beginning of its travel.

9. The invention of claim 8 including spring-loaded detent means acting between said platform means and said container accurately to position said container in each of its index positions relative to said gripping means.

:10. The invention of claim 9 in which said drive means includes a reversible electric motor and transmission means for connecting said motor to said gripping means.

11. The invention of claim 10 in which said motor, transmission means and gripping means are mounted on said platform means, and including means for gently wobbling said platform means controllably to agitate the blood drawn into such test tubes.

12. The invention of claim 11 in which said wobbling means includes a driver, and including a vacuum pump driving-1y connected to said driver, a third cannula attached to said gripping means and arranged to extend toward the sealing means of such tubes so that, each time said gripping means and said cartridge means are reciprocated together, said third cannula is penetrated through the sealing means of one of such tubes, and conduit means for connecting said third cannula to said pump to draw air from such tubes into which said third cannula is penetrated.

13. The invention of claim 1 including a vacuum pump, a third cannula carried by said gripping means and arranged to extend toward the sealing means of such tubes so that, each time said gripping means and said cartridge means are reciprocated together, said third cannula is penetrated through the sealing means of one of such tubes, and conduit means for connecting said third cannula to said vacuum pump partially to evacuate such tubes into which said third cannula is penetrated.

14. The invention of claim 13 including rotary means for supporting said platform means for wobbling movement, a motor drivingly connected to said rotary means, and means for drivingly connecting said motor to said vacuum pump.

15. The invention of claim 13 in which said gripping means is mounted on said platform means for reciprocation toward and away from said cartridge means, and in which said conduit means includes first means providing a passageway in communication with said third cannula, said first means being movable with said gripping means toward and away from said cartridge means, second means providing a passageway disposed adjacent the path of said first means, and a conduit providing communication between the last-said passageway and said pump, said first and second means being proportioned and constructed so that, when said third cannula is penetrated into such a tube, said first and second means are engaged and the passageways provided, respectively,

thereby are in registry to complete a substantially airtight path from said third cannula to said conduit.

16. The invention of claim 1 including means for constricting such a flexible tube between such first and second cannulae, said constricting means including a pincher member mounted for movement into and out of engagement with such a tube, and means for actuating said pincher member, said actuating means being operated by the relative movement of said cartridge means and gripping means, said actuating means being arranged so that said pincher member is held out of engagement with such a tube when said cartridge means and gripping means are brought together and so that said pincher member is held in engagement with such a tube when said cartridge means and gripping means are separated.

17. The invention of claim 1 in which said drive means is drivingly connected to said gripping means to reciprocate said gripping means toward and away from said cartridge means, and including means for constricting such a flexible tube between such first and second cannulae, said constricting means including a pincher member carried with said gripping means and mounted for movement into and out of engagement with such a tube, and means for actuating said pincher member, said actuating means being operated by movement of said gripping means toward and away from said cartridge means, said actuating means being arranged so that said pincher member is held out of engagement with such a tube when said gripping means is moved to be adjacent said cartridge means and so that said pincher member 13 is held in engagement with such a tube when said gripping means is separate from said cartridge means.

18. The invention of claim 17 in which said actuating means includes means providing a ramp surface disposed alongside the path of reciprocation of said gripping means and positioned and inclined to move said pincher member into engagement with such a flexible tube as said gripping means moves away from said cartridge means.

19. The invention of claim 18 in which said actuating means includes means for latching said pincher member in engagement with such a flexible tube, said latching means including a latch member engageable with said pincher member, said latch member being cooperatively connected to said gripping means for movement by said gripping means to disengage said pincher member, and spring means for yieldably resisting movement of said latch member out of engagement with said pincher member, said spring means being calibrated so that it is overcome by the forces exerted on said gripping means when, such a first cannula is penetrated through such a sealing means.

20, The invention of claim 17 in which said gripping means includes a base portion and a chuck portion mounted on said base portion for slight movement relative to said base portion, said chuck portion being arranged to receive and hold such first cannula, and in which said pincher member is carried by said base portion for movement into and out of engagement with such a flexible tube, and in which said actuating means includes means providing a ramp surface disposed alongside the path of reciprocation of said gripping means and positioned and inclined to move said pincher member into engagement with such a flexible tube as said gripping means moves away from said cartridge means, and means for latching said pincher member in engagement with such a flexible tube, said latching means being cooperatively associated with said chuck portion and arranged to release said pincher member when said chuck portion is caused to move slightly relative to said base portion by the resistance of such sealing means to penetration by such first cannula.

21. The invention of claim 20 in which said latching means includes a latch member arranged to engage said pincher member and spring means acting to hold said latch member in engagement with said pincher member, said latch member being connected to said chuck portion for movement therewith relative to said base portion, and said spring means being calibrated to permit such relative movement when such a first cannula is penetrated through such a sealing means.

22. The invention of claim 21 including a vacuum pump, a third cannula carried by said gripping means and arranged to extend toward the sealing means of such tubes so that, each time said gripping means and said cartridge means are reciprocated together, said third cannula is penetrated through the sealing means of one of such tubes, and conduit means for connecting said third cannula to said vacuum pump partially to evacuate such tubes into which said third cannula is penetrated.

23. The invention of claim 22 including rotary means for supporting said platform means for wobbling movement, a motor drivingly connected to said rotary means, and means for drivingly connecting said motor to said vacuum pump.

24. The invention of claim 23 in which said means for providing such relative movement between said member of said indexing means and said cartridge means includes means for connecting said member to said gripping means for reciprocation therewith, in which said cartridge means includes a cylindrically-shaped container, in which said supporting means is arranged so that said container is movable about its axis, and in which said indexing portions are peripherally spaced about said container with each of said indexing portions providing a surface portion which extends spirally about a peripheral portion of said container, said member being movable rectilinearly axially relative to said container to engage each such surface portion to rock said container through an angle determined by the peripheral extent of said surface portion and the extent of axial movement of said member while engaged with said surface portion.

25. A blood specimen collecting device comprising cartridge means for holding a plurality of test tubes, each said test tube including sealing means closing one end thereof, said cartridge means being constructed and arranged so that said test tubes are held with their sealing means facing outwardly therefrom, a first cannula for penetrating through said sealing means and into said test tubes, a second cannula for penetrating into a vein, flexible tube means for connecting said cannulae, drive means for providing relative reciprocation between said first cannula and said cartridge means in the direction of extension of said first cannula to penetrate said first cannula through each said sealing means and into each said test tube, a third cannula arranged to be penetrated through each said sealing means and into each said test tube, vacuum pump means, and conduit means for connecting said third cannula to said vacuum pump means, said vacuum pump means being effective at least partially to evacuate each said test tube into which said third cannula is penetrated to a condition such that blood will be drawn from a vein into said test tube.

26. The invention of claim 25 in which said vacuum pump means includes a motor driven pump for at least partially evacuating each said test tube into which said third cannula is penetrated.

27. The invention of claim 25 in which said vacuum pump means includes a manually-operated pump for at least partially evacuating each said test tube into which said third cannula is penetrated.

28. The invention of claim 25 including means for rigidly gripping said first cannula, said gripping means being arranged so that the sharpened end of said first cannula is pointed toward said cartridge means, said cartridge means being arranged to hold said test tubes so that their said sealing means are generally facing the sharpened end of said first cannula, said third cannula being carried by said gripping means and arranged so that its sharpened end is pointed toward said cartridge means, said first and third cannulae being spaced apart by a distance such that both of said cannulae penetrate through the same sealing means and into the same test tube when said drive means provides such relative reciprocation.

29. The invention of claim 28 including motor means for driving said vacuum pump means.

30. The invention of claim 28 in which said vacuum pump means includes a manually-operated vacuum pump.

31. The invention of claim 28 in which each of said sealing means includes an adapter tube proportioned and designed to fit into said one end of its associated test tube with the axially extending outer surface of said adapter tube engaging the axially extending inner surface of said test tube adjacent its said one end, said adapter tube providing an end wall disposed axially inwardly from said one end of its associated test tube and a mouth adjacent said one end, and a plug disposed in and closing said mouth to define a space bounded by said end wall and said plug, said end wall having a perforation therein to provide communication betweeen the interior of said test tube and said space, and in which said first cannula is of a length such that its sharpened end will penetrate through said plug, space and end wall into the interior of said associated test tube and said third cannula is of a length such that its sharpened end will penetrate through said plug into said space.

32. The invention of claim 31 in which said adapter tube is provided with an axially and transversely extending wall portion dividing said space into a first compartment through which said first cannula will extend and a l second compartment into which said second cannula will extend, said wall portion being perforated to provide communication between said compartments and the said perforation in said end wall being located to provide communication between the interior of said associated test tube and said first compartment.

33. The invention of claim 32 in which said vacuum pump means includes a motor-driven vacuum pump.

34. The invention of claim 32 in which said vacuum pump means includes a manually-operated vacuum pump.

35. The invention of claim 28 in which said drive means is drivingly connected to said gripping means to reciprocate said gripping means toward and away from said cartridge means, and including means for constricting said flexible tube means between said first and second cannulae, said constricting means including a pincher member carried with said gripping means and mounted for movement into and out of engagement with said flexible tube means, and means for actuating said pincher member, said actuating means being operated by movement of said gripping means toward and away from said cartridge means, said actuating means being arranged so that said pincher member is held out of engagement with said flexible tube means when said gripping means is moved to be adjacent said cartridge means and so that said pincher member is held in engagement with said flexible tube means when said gripping means is separated from said cartridge means.

36. The invention of claim 35 in which said actuating means includes means providing a ramp surface disposed alongside the path of reciprocation of said gripping means and positioned and inclined to move said pincher member into engagement with said flexible tube means as said gripping means moves away from said cartridge means, and means for latching said pincher member in engagement with said flexible tube means, said latching means including a latch member engageable with said pincher member, said latch member being cooperatively connected to said gripping means for movement by said gripping means to disengage said pincher member, and spring means for yieldably resisting movement of said latch member out of engagement with said pincher member, said spring means being calibrated so that it is overcome by the forces exerted on said gripping means when said cannula is penetrated through said sealing means.

37. A blood specimen collecting device comprising a means supporting a plurality of test tubes, each said test tube including sealing means closing one end thereof, a first cannula, flexible tube means for connecting said first cannula to a second cannula suitable for penetrating into a vein, a third cannula, vacuum pump means, conduit means for connecting said third cannula to said vacuum pump means, and mechanism means for causing sequential penetration of said first and third cannulae through successive ones of said sealing means and into communication with the interior of said test tubes.

38. The invention of claim- 37 including means for constricting said flexible tube means when said first cannula is not penetrated through a sealing means, said constricting means being operably connected to said penetrating means.

39. A blood specimen collecting device comprising cartridge means for holding a plurality of test tubes, each said test tube including sealing means closing one end thereof, said cartridge means being constructed and arranged so that said test tubes are held with their sealing means facing in the same general direction, a first cannula for penetrating through said sealing means and into said test tubes, means for rigidly gripping said first cannula, said gripping means being arranged sothat the sharpened end of said first cannula is pointed generally toward said sealing means, a second cannula for penetrating into a. vein, flexible tube means for connecting said cannulae, drive means for providing relative reciprocation between said first cannula and said cartridge means sequentially to penetrate said first cannula through each said sealing means and into each said test tube, and means for constricting said flexible tube means when said first cannula is not penetrated into one of said test tubes, said constricting means being operated by said relative movement between said cartridge means and said gripping means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,405,706 10/1968 Cinqualbre 128-2. R 3,430,628 3/ 1969 Wiggins l2 8276 3,528,404 9/1970 Chan 128-2 R ALDRICH F. MEDBERY, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. l2 8272, 276 

